“Thank you so much, Adrian. This is amazing,” I whisper. “More beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen.”
Adrian kisses my cheek, glances around, and lifts his chin proudly. “It is, isn’t it?”
I see a speck of white paint in Cam’s hair and I giggle as I tuck the piece behind his ear.
“You have paint in your hair.” I smile.
“You have no idea,” he mutters dryly as he glances at Adrian. “This was hardcore. We should have filmed it for some reality television show.”
Adrian raises his eyebrows. “It really was. I thought I was going to die yesterday. We’re lucky to still be here. But at least you can take your hands out of your pockets.”
I frown in question and he pulls his hands out. His cuticles have white paint imbedded on them. My mouth falls open in shock and I burst out laughing.
“We ran out of time and turpentine,” Adrian mutters dryly. “It’s appalling.”
“Did you see Stan’s legs?” Cameron laughs.
“Oh no.” I laugh as I put my hand over my mouth. “What’s wrong with Joshua’s legs.”
“Covered in paint,” Cameron replies. “But I got the last of the turpentine because I was the one getting married. We sent someone to get some more but it was too late; the photographers arrived before they got back.”
My heart melts and I put my arms around them both. “It means so much to me that you did everything here yourselves.” I tear up.
“Now she cries,” Cameron replies flatly with an eye roll. “She marries the greatest man on Earth and sheds not a tear. The minute she finds out we’re covered in paint and boom.”
“I’m about to curl into a fetal position and cry about this paint, too,” Adrian says flatly as he looks at his fingernails.
We all laugh and Adrian glances at his watch. “The cake and speeches are in five minutes.” We watch him walk off through the crowd as he immediately snaps back into his wedding-planner role, and I slide my arms around my husband.
“Thank you so much, Cam.” I kiss him softly. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
His lips linger on mine. “Yes, I do. That’s why I did it.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
“You’d better.” He smiles down at me. “Let’s go cut our wedding cake.”
We’ve cut the cake, my father and Joshua have given their speeches and toasts, and the teaspoons have started to hit the champagne glasses. Everyone is waiting for his speech.
Cameron rolls his lips nervously and stands.
Owen comes and sits on my lap, looking up at his father.
Cam puts his hand on the top of his affectionately as he gathers his thoughts.
Joshua hands him the microphone and Cam exhales heavily. Oh, he’s nervous.
I smile as I watch him.
“I would like to thank you all for coming today. We know it was a long trek, but Ashley and I really appreciate it.” He turns to Joshua and Adrian, who are sitting on the other side of him. “To my two best men.” He watches them for a moment and then scrunches his lips together as he becomes emotional, dropping his head.
Joshua shakes his head and Adrian smiles proudly as he watches on.
“I’m trading you both in for new best friends as soon as possible.” Cam frowns as he regains composure. “Out with the old and in with the new is my new mantra.”
The crowd bursts into laughter. It’s such a Cameron thing to say.
He puts his hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “On a serious note…” He pauses and swallows the lump in his throat. “Thank you both for always being there for me.” He drops his head again, unable to speak through emotion, and I smile through tears.
“Fucking pussy,” Joshua whispers up at him with a smirk.
Cameron shakes his head as he desperately tries to regain his composure.
He turns his attention to me and smiles softly. “Ashley. My beautiful wife.”
The crowd smiles and cheers, and he takes a sip of his beer and then he holds it up to offer a silent toast.
He frowns as he thinks. “I had this big three-page speech written out for you.” He frowns. “But there aren’t any words to describe what I feel.” He frowns again and swallows.
My eyes tear up even more. He’s really struggling here.
He smiles and looks at the guests. “You all know our story. We met in Vegas and I fell hopelessly in love with her.” He puts his hand over his heart to accentuate his